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June 10, 2004 The DNC and Boston Labor The labor problems hovering in the background of the Democratic National Convention in Boston offer the Democrats an interesting dilemma. They, the self-professed "champions of labor" are facing an incipient strike which may cast them in a bad light come convention day. Joan Vennochi of the Boston Globe weighs in with her opinion: JOHN KERRY has a plan for health care, the economy, and the war in Iraq. How about announcing a plan to stand up to organized labor when it acts like a spoiled bully? [...] That is the picture beamed from Boston. It is more than the picture of a showdown between one city mayor and unhappy union members. It is also the picture of the Democratic Party held hostage by organized labor. The fight? The stand-off between the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association and the City of Boston is not just a problem for Menino. It is a microcosm of a larger problem for Democrats. It showcases their longstanding genuflection to labor, no matter how bad labor makes the party look. And that's the point and the Democrat's dilemma. Here, by all standards, you have a union acting like a bunch of thugs. Even Venochi, who states she's a union member and basically supports unions is having trouble supporting the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association in this dispute. Her advice? What if Kerry stood up to the picket line and asked them to let crane drivers and others in to do the work needed for the convention? How many votes would he pick up with a stand like that? This could turn out to be a very interesting and important confrontation should it be allowed to continue until convention time. It will be interesting to see how the Democrats handle it. It has the potential to turn into a large negative for them if they don't do it well. |
I'm hardly a fan of unions, but it's exceedingly unclear to me what exactly it is the BPPA is supposed to be doing that makes them a "bully". They've been working without a contract for two years, they feel the city's offer is unsatisfactory, fate has handed them the perfect opportunity to put the screws to the Mayor and they're doing it -- isn't this what unions are supposed to do?!? As strategies go, it's perfect -- Mumbles Menino isn't going to have much choice save to cave.
The only thing I can figure is that when unions inconvenience mean ol' business it's power to the people, but when union action inconveniences the coronation of Liveshot Kerry (who is hardly what one would call popular in this state) it's a crime.
Funny how that works.
Myria
Posted by: Myria at June 10, 2004 09:37 AM
Myria: I don't necessarily disagree, however it appears this is standard operating procedure for this particular union, i.e. keep rejecting offers until some event will show case the dispute and they can essentially blackmail the city government into meeting their demands without compromise. They won't agree to arbitration or collective bargaining, prefering, instead to let the public attention (and the city's desire not to have it shining on them in this light) force the city to meet their demands.
Its going to be interesting to see how the DNC and Kerry react to all of this.
Posted by: McQ at June 10, 2004 10:10 AM
"Show some collective courage, Democrats. If you can't stand up to Tom Nee, how do you stand up to Jacques Chirac, Yasser Arafat or Al Qaeda?"
The answer there is you dont. You kiss their ass, bow, scrape, talk about their differences, and in general, capitulate to them whatever they desire so that they will like us.
At least that is how John Kerry would stand up to people mentioned.
Posted by: retired military at June 10, 2004 12:35 PM